Back to the Owens

Memorial Day weekend took me back to the Owen's Valley. Loaded up with Ben D and Ryan Gobble-gobble and blasted thru the Tioga pass arriving late on Friday night. Sunday was the day with solid lift, not too much OD, and breathtaking views.

I launched, climbed through 10k and realized I didn't turn my oxygen on. Tried to reach it, but could not. Got my head back in the game and decided I would just have to leave lift at 13k, giving myself buffer to 14. That worked for the most part, except for one thermal I couldn't safely get out of until it topped out at 15.5k

The Sierra's were breath taking

The air was very turbulent and fatiguing without oxygen. I worked my way north crossing Whitney Portal, then Onion Valley and reaching the lava fields near Aberdeen.

I launched just in time as it started to OD around launch back to the South.

I picked up my pace as I saw growing OD back to the South. Near Aberdeen I caught a particularly nasty thermal which drifted my out over the valley. Realizing the westerlies had kicked in, I decided not to head back towards the Sierra's, even though I was a bit too far South to make the crossing. At the center of the valley I found more lift between 10k and 13k and let it slowly carry me North up 395 until I had Black Mountain on glide.

I flew over Big Ears, and found Joe Jackson climbing at Black. I climbed for a little while but began to grow concerned about the OD to the South. I decided to get moving fast to the North. I hit massive sink at this point and found myself over a beautiful green field just past Bishop. It wasn't a crop, but just a spot in the desert with some ground water. I couldn't resist and put it down next to a shade tree where I broke my glider down in comfort.

Total Distance: 64 miles
Total Time: 3:30

That night we stayed North, camping up near Mono Lake. We found a wonderful ditch under a power line to spend the night

"Driver Appreciation Night" Copper Launch in the background.

Monday was OD'd big time in the valley so we hit a hot spring, and then checked out Copper Launch. The area around Mono lake is stunning.

Everyone Jump!

After Copper we headed back through Yosemite to home, taking one short stop to climb a snowy 11k peak.

What a great weekend. Good friends, good flying, good adventures. I love hang gliding.